Keep the juvenile home open

On Dec. 9, Gov. Terry Branstad announced the closing of the Iowa Juvenile Home. As our highest elected state official, the governor has acted outside the powers and scope of the job he was elected to do. IJH is referenced in the Code of Iowa under Section 233B.2 and states that it "shall be maintained."

On Nov. 22, State Sen. Steve Sodders recommended the following, "A decision about the future of the Toledo facility should include employees and policymakers from across the state, not just officials in the Governor's Office." The governor was quoted in The Des Moines Register on Nov. 25, stating flatly, "it's not true," in reference to a closed door decision. On Dec. 9, the governor went against this promise and announced the closure of IJH effective Jan. 16h. This decision affects all the youth we currently serve, most of whom will be moved to a different facility where they have already been and have not been successful.

Branstad was not elected to make changes to Iowa Code without input from legislators. Please write him your thoughts and remind him of this. It is the duty of our legislators to make these decisions, through a process of open debate and discussion. This was a calculated and hurtful move to reduce the number of state employees and privatize a large part of the state's services. His personal privatization agenda should not get in the way of what's best for Iowa's youth, receiving the treatment they need.

Todd Sprague

Waterloo

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Keep the juvenile home open

On Dec. 9, Gov. Terry Branstad announced the closing of the Iowa Juvenile Home.